Layla is a very special little girl, who at age 1 was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy causing her to have symptoms such as increased muscle tone and a crouched walk. The condition causes stiffness in her lower body, her legs, hips and pelvis. Affecting her walking and her balance. She is one of the lucky ones who is able to walk, but not without great difficulty, she wears splints on both legs all the time, she also has to sleep in gators or a large night splint, depending on how she is feeling that day. It can get very painful and she gets extremely tired even when walking short distances. Day to day basic tasks are very difficult, getting up and down stairs, into the bath, getting dressed etc.
She has to undergo physio exercises everyday which can be quite painful for her because of the stiffness. She has recently been fitted for a wheelchair, which she now takes to school for when she gets tired and has lots of other aids in and around the house to help her such as Tripod walking sticks and a kaye walker.
She has undergone BOTOX injections in her legs numerous times, with little, short lasting results. Also having her legs cast.
She has finally been referred to a specialist surgeon at Nottingham for a procedure called Selective dorsal rhizotomy, SDR for short. The operation consists of the surgeon making a skin incision in the upper lumbar spine. Then the spinal canal is opened at only one level. An ultrasound probe is used to identify the lower end of the spinal cord. Under the operating microscope, the membrane covering the spinal cord is opened and the lower end of the cord, with the sensory roots entering it, is identified.
Each of the sensory nerve roots is then subdivided into four or five rootlets. Each rootlet is stimulated to identify the ones that contribute most to the spasticity. These rootlets are then divided. The process is repeated for all the other nerve roots, from L1 to S2, on both sides, aiming to divide 50 to 70 per cent of the sensory roots.
If successful this operation will rid Layla of her spasticity in her legs and give her a fresh start at walking!
Unfortunately this procedure is not preformed on the NHS so it's something we need to raise money for! The operation and intensive physiotherapy/aftercare will cost around £25,000. We have been waiting for this moment for 2 years after watching a child on tv who had the same condition as Layla have the operation and the results were amazing! My daughter is the most amazing little girl, she is strong, independent and let's nothing stand in her way, i want nothing more for her than to be happy, and this is something she and I both want to better her chances in the future.
Thankyou so much for taking the time to read our story and for your kind donations. It means the world to us, especially Layla!
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